Local rocker's song honors veterans

Saturday

May 31, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Every year, the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund places 37,000 flags on the Boston common for Memorial Day, in honor of the 37,000 servicemen and women from Mass. who have perished since the Revolutionary War. This number struck Altholtz, and he decided to use that as a theme in his song. “It was very powerful."

Staff Reporter

Rock music has a long history of raising issues, whether to stage a protest or support a cause. A new song written by a local musician in honor of veterans ask listeners to remember Massachusetts’ fallen – all 37,000 of them.

The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund approached Howie Altholtz of Cohasset, an attorney and singer-songwriter, to write a song for Memorial Day. Altholtz was happy to lend his talents to the cause.

The song, titled “Train Called War,” is pure rock and roll with a bit of country flair. Although he considers himself a rocker at heart, Altholtz said he drew inspiration from country music to write the song, feeling that it fit the patriotic theme.

“I associate country with soldiers more than traditional rock,” he said.

While explaining that his music is “often very political,” however leaning “more toward the liberal side,” this was a cause Altholtz was happy to champion.

“There’s always contention in American politics,” the attorney and musician said. “The one thing we can all come together on is support for the men and women who serve… and put it on the line for us.

“Whatever side you’re on, everyone’s for peace,” he continued. “Whatever political avenue you’re coming from, the one thing everyone agrees on is taking care of soldiers not only when overseas, but when they come home.”

The Mass. Military Heroes Fund is a Boston non-profit that supports the families of military personnel with ties to the Commonwealth, who have died as a result of active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.

Every year, the group places 37,000 flags on the Boston common for Memorial Day, in honor of the 37,000 servicemen and women from Mass. who have perished since the Revolutionary War.

This number struck Altholtz, and he decided to use that as a theme in his song. “It was very powerful,” he said of first hearing the number. “I started rolling with the metaphor and started writing it.”

The other image that came to mind as he composed the song was of a train. This came after some of the lyrics had been written and the music began to take shape. “I wrote the words first,” Altholtz explained. “As I was writing the music, I kind of felt that the song had this motion, like a train going down the tracks.”

The “train called war,” said Altholtz, “just keeps on going; it never stops. Throughout history, the soldiers are the ones left to take the ride.”

The musician said that his song was well-received by the Heroes Fund, although he was asked to tweak the lyrics to be “more oriented about the families of the loved ones left behind.”

Altholtz said that he was given the honor to write the song after Dawn Teixeira of the Heroes Fund approached him. Teixeira is also a songwriter and has known Altholtz for a while, he said.

The kicker was that he only had a few weeks to compose and record the song. Altholtz said that he was asked to take on the project less than a month ago. The entire song came together, from writing to recording, in just over a week.

“It was probably one of the fastest songs I’ve ever written,” he said. “From the time it was [first] discussed to the complete recording and production of it, it was [done in] seven to eight days.

“The idea came to me almost immediately,” said Altholtz, adding that he wrote the song in around 15 hours, then sent it to his bandmate and collaborator, Joe Felloni to “work his magic in the studio.”

Felloni arranged the song and recorded the instrumentation, and Altholtz recorded his vocals. The song was debuted at the Heroes Fund May 21 event on the Boston Common, during which the 37,000 flags were planted.

Altholtz said it was a moving day, adding that he met several servicemen and women, along with Gov. Patrick and Boston Marathon hero Carlos Arredondo.

“It was a powerful event,” said Altholtz. “Actually being there really reinforced the power of seeing 37,000 flags. It was a goose bump moment.”

While he has been in the music business for 30 years as a writer, performer, attorney and producer, Altholtz said that this is the first time he was commissioned to write a song on request.

“I’m happy I was able to contribute in my small way, and hope it gives people pleasure and a powerful moment of contemplation,” he said.

The song is available for download with a donation to the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund in any amount; email Altholtz at howie2025@comcast.net to request a copy.

For more on the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, visit www.massmilitaryheroes.org.